Democrats Only: Is it just me?

Question

I was driving w/ my mom & she announces she is voting for Edwards, I’m thinking vote for who you think is best, I said “okay, do you agree w/ him more than Barack or the other candidates?” She says “Well I’m not voting for Hillary and I don’t want to vote for Barack b/c I’m afraid for his kids”, I get upset (don’t show it though) and say “Well Edwards has small children also, why are you not afraid for them?” She says “Well that’s different.” I said “How? Because he is not black, your picking a candidate based, not on his beliefs or what his/her agenda is but on fear? A fear based in racism at that?” She says nothing. I told her that, her beliefs are racist and that is the problem w/ her generation of black ppl that they do so much and don’t do so much based on fear. She hasn’t even listened to what ANY of the candidates have to say, what their agenda is, it’s all on fear and racism, I think that’s crazy & ignorant. What do you think? OH ANY BASHING AND I WILL REPORT YOU

Classmates: So your answer to the question was what. . . . exactly. . . .

Saab: I agree but as far as the ticket, I think Obama Pres Edwards VP

Answer 1

People vote for a particular candidate for all sorts of reasons... most illogical and, frankly, stupid. There are so many people who will or won't vote for a candidate based on their religious, ethnic, family, etc... background. So many people who will vote for a candidate because they passionately agree with them on ONE issue, but disagree with them on almost everything else.

It's insane. Democracy is great and all, but not when the majority of the voting population is prejudiced, uninformed, and ignorant.

That said... I'm voting for Kucinich. Everyone attacks him because they think he's odd and looks like an emaciated troll with a toupe (and I'd agree... he does), but... I'm amazed more young people don't support him. He's the only candidate who wants to immediately withdraw from Iraq, fully supports gay marriage, the most vehemently for universal health care, ending NAFTA, etc... Obama, on the other hand, doesn't support universal health care (only "affordable" health care... without saying what that means), wants to continue the war in Iraq, has no plans or desires to end NAFTA, etc... Frankly, he's quasi-conservative.

That's just my little rant, though. =)

Anyway... I agree. Everyone should vote for who they want based on the issues... not because of race, gender, religion (unless it happens to be someone like Bush and that religion pours over into the issues), etc...

EDIT: The fear of a black president being targeted is a valid one *maybe*, but we as a country will need to get past that eventually. I mean... he couldn't be anymore hated than Bush, and Bush hasn't been assassinated yet (though there's a huge price on his head, actually... I think close to a billion dollars now).

Answer 2

I'm White, but I have encountered this same thing with two African American friends. They honestly believe if Obama were President, he'd be assassinated and for his own safety, they are supporting other candidates! I don't understand it. You can't let fear motivate your politics. The Republicans have been using that card for way too long. Vote for whoever you think has the right message. Personally, I wish Hillary and Obama would tone it down a little and stop attacking each other because I think the best possible ticket would be Hillary for Prez and Obama as V.P.

No Stereotype: I can understand why you would like to see the ticket as Obama/ Edwards. That would be my preference as well, but I don't think the rest of the country is there yet. I do think Hillary has the potential to get elected and if she has Obama as VP, I am confident that he would do so well in that role under Hillary that he would be Prez after her. How great would that be for us to first break the gender barrier and elect a female Prez, and then have the next Prez be African American?

Answer 3

Well, at least she knows the Candidate's names. I heard an interview with a woman during the last election. She was voting for Kerry. She didn't know Kerry's wife's name. Could not say what state Kerry was a Senator of, and could not name one single stand of Kerry's on any issue. She only knew she wasn't voting for Bush. After the election, Kerry and Democrats said they felt as if their message didn't get out. I disagree. Their message was hate Bush, vote for Kerry.

Tell your mom that not only is voting her right, it is a privilege that many people of all colors have fought, suffered and died for. It is her duty to be informed.

If your mom pays just a little attention, she will get a good view of the candidates between now and January. They are fighting tooth and nail for the nomination and people are demanding some specifics this time. The information is there for your mom. As for myself, I have made no choice as of yet.

Answer 4

I personally would never base my choices on race or gender or religion, but I still will not support either Hilary or Obama. I am as liberal as you can get, but I am completely against anyone who is a member of the CFR, or has attended any Bilderberg meetings. I am completely against anyone who supports the New World Order agenda. I am totally against anyone who gets their campaign financing from Corporate interests, and other moneyed interests. I could go on and on, but suffice it to say, I am against all of the so called front runners for those and other related reasons. That includes Edwards. But I would definitely vote for and support a black candidate or a female candidate, if I agree with their stance on what I consider to be the most important quality of life issues. The only valid way to pick a candidate is to look at where they get their campaign financing, and to study their voting records on the issues that you consider the most important. To vote FOR a candidate JUST because he or she is black, or JUST because she is a woman, is JUST as wrong as voting against them because they are black or female. *sm*

Answer 5

It's amazing how many people will make major decisions based on almost no information. When I was getting my haircut during the last election, one of the hairdressers said she would not vote for Kerry because he was a flip-flopper. I asked what issues he had changed his mind about that she didn't like. She said she didn't know any examples, but wasn't voting for a flip-flopper.

At least your mom is not voting for a "stay the course in Iraq" candidate like Romney, Guiliani or McCain.

Answer 6

I think it's hard to go wrong with the dem candidates this time around. They're all very smart and well qualified.

so, no matter who wins the nomination, we'll be in good shape.

i do think it's goofy to pick your vote based on the race of the children of the candidates...

i think people should get informed, pay attention to what the candidates are saying and think about how their beliefs match up or don't match up with the candidates... and vote based on that.

Answer 7

Sigh...unfortunately, too many people, black, white, whatever, vote like your mom; Totally uninformed on the real issues & pejudiced by rumors. God help us all!
Edit: When I was young, I remember people voting for Kennedy just because he was young & good-looking. Nothing else seemed to matter (one friend actually admitted that she just liked the way he talked). Thank God, he turned out to be a decent president despite his personal failings. Let's hope this time around, most people will be smarter. There are no guarantees. Look how many hate Hillary simply because she's a strong intelligent woman...or just because she's a woman, they'll look no further & find excuses to hate her. If they really dug deep inside themselves, they'd realize that's true. But they won't.

Answer 8

Ah, to be young...

My daughter often doesn't understand my reasoning either. And while I don't understand exactly what your mother opinion is I wouldn't be so quick to judge.

If she is around my age we BOTH saw two Kennedy's and two black civil rights leaders murdered.

I'd like either Barack or Hillary elected but I don't think it's going to happen.

In fact, I don't expect to see it in my lifetime. (I also never I thought I'd see another Vietnam in my lifetime either)

Whatever you have to do, do it. But change is very slow. We may be getting ready for a non-white male president but it's probably 30-40 years down the road.

The current admin has made some changes that may take decades to realize the impact and then another few decades to right.

Good luck.
Peace.

Answer 9

All you can do is have that discussion with her. Then drop it and vote your conscience the way you see fit. I wouldn't call her ignorant though. She got her "education" the hard way. As much as we would like to believe the America we live in no longer has any relevant racial strife, it simply isnt true. There still exist many who hate for no other reason than what a person looks like. While I disgree with allowing that to dominate my decision making or stifle my life, I do take heed of past mistakes in the effort to avoid repeating them.

Answer 10

I don't know what to tell you, people choose who to vote for based on really illogical reasons. Most people couldn't even tell you why they voted for whoever, or provide any proof that they even know what the candidate stands for.

I would do almost anything to ensure that Barack Obama is our next president. I so want a president who is a good man that I can be proud of.